Stuck With Me

s thick, almost suffocating

he murmured, her

mmer of hope sparking as if she were rea

t words shatte

me. She and I will never get married,

d, she took a deep breath and relaxed

has happened. Heartbreak, family drama, she

needed to do: reach out to her mom. She dialed the number,

some kind of explanation. The woman on

d...well, he's still off on vacation

ey barely noticed her anymore. Without another thought, she made up her mi

o time. It was modest-just a cozy little space with pristine white walls and simpl

Stitches.* To her surprise and relief, she was hired right away as a hairstylist. Thing

hone buzzed with an all-too-

l, but curiosity got the best of her. Why wo

roke the silence when she finally picked up, b

. "What do you want, Phil

g. "Please, forgive me for what I did. Meet me at the

ot? Well, I think I have to make

t an urge to confront him face-to-face, to finally put an

oke up with her in the first pla

woman he remembered. She was going to look entirely

ty and classic looks, but this time, Karen

he slipped into an oversize, faded sweatshirt. paired with baggy sweatpa

was somewhat satisfying. And with a s

and as she walked into the bar, Ph

What's going on? What's all this about?" He scrutinized her fro

pocket. Karen could tell he was irked by her appearance, b

come here, Phil?" she a

gether," Phil implored. "I know I hurt y

er with my parents, and when she broke the news that she was

at to do. But Karen, you're the only woman I truly love and want to be with."

life for the past five years, but that doesn't change anything. Save your apolo

out hesitation, she grabbed a glass, filled it to the brim, and downed it in one go.

mixed emotions. As she walked out of the bar, she began t

really getting drunk from

like this!" Phil called out, his voic

and and continued pleadin

from me! I have a boyfriend now, and I will never be w

at's impossible.

the past two weeks you d

Maurice approaching, she quickly sw

as her